Follicular Atresia in Buffalo: Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) and the Underlying Mechanisms
Chunyan Yang,
Haiying Zheng,
Ahmed Amin,
Marwa S. Faheem,
Anqin Duan,
Lingyu Li,
Peng Xiao,
Mengqi Li,
Jianghua Shang
Affiliations
Chunyan Yang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Haiying Zheng
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Ahmed Amin
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Marwa S. Faheem
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
Anqin Duan
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Lingyu Li
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Peng Xiao
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Mengqi Li
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Jianghua Shang
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Reproduction and Breeding, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
Atresia is a process in ovarian follicles that is regulated by hormone-induced apoptosis. During atresia, granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis is a key mechanism orchestrated through diverse signaling pathways. Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) signaling within ovarian GCs has been demonstrated to play a key role in the regulation of follicular atresia in cattle, pigs, and sheep. The present work aimed to investigate the potential local regulatory role of CART in GC apoptosis-induced follicular atresia in buffalo, focusing on the modulation of the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are the intracellular signaling pathways involved in cell viability. Our findings revealed increased expression of CARTPT and BAX and decreased levels of AKT, β-catenin, and CYP19A1 genes in atretic follicles compared to healthy follicles. Subsequently, CART treatment in the presence of FSH inhibited the FSH-induced increase in GC viability by reducing estradiol production and increasing apoptosis. This change was accompanied by an increase in the gene expression levels of both CARTPT and BAX. At the protein level, treatment with CART in the presence of FSH negatively affected the activity of AKT, β-catenin, and LEF1, while the activity of GSK3β was enhanced. In conclusion, our study shows how CART negatively influences buffalo GC viability, underlying the modulation of the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway and promoting apoptosis—a key factor in follicular atresia.
